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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Friday with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in Ankara, with both sides reaffirming Türkiye’s EU candidate status and underscoring the strategic value of Türkiye–EU relations.
According to a joint statement by the Foreign Ministry, Fidan and Kos highlighted the importance of Türkiye–EU ties in strengthening regional stability and economic resilience amid a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.
The two officials welcomed the recent increase in mutual engagement across areas of shared interest and reiterated their determination to translate this momentum into concrete steps.
The statement said progress achieved through five high-level dialogue meetings held in 2025 contributed to continued EU support for Türkiye’s efforts in hosting people under temporary protection and to facilitating access for Turkish citizens to multiple-entry Schengen visas.
Both sides stressed that recent global and regional developments have further elevated the strategic importance of Türkiye–EU relations. Fidan underlined the need to urgently overcome existing obstacles and called for cooperation within a more comprehensive, institutional and multidimensional framework.
The two sides agreed that strengthening cooperation in areas of shared interest, including security and connectivity, carries strategic importance in light of ongoing regional and global developments.
Fidan and Kos also emphasized closer coordination to shape a regional connectivity agenda covering energy, transport, digitalization and trade, with the aim of contributing to stability, resilience and sustainable growth in the Black Sea, South Caucasus and Central Asia.
In this context, they underlined Türkiye’s role as a central geopolitical actor in the region.
The importance of economic integration between Türkiye and the EU was reaffirmed during the talks.
Fidan said updating the customs union is increasingly urgent as global trade shifts, geopolitical and economic risks grow, supply chains face strain, and green and digital transitions accelerate.
Both sides agreed to maintain engagement to improve the implementation of the customs union and expressed their joint will to unlock its full potential to support competitiveness, economic security and resilience.
The parties also welcomed the gradual resumption of activities by the European Investment Bank in Türkiye and voiced their intention to further strengthen cooperation with the bank to support innovation-based and sustainable projects in Türkiye and neighboring regions.
They welcomed the European Commission decision facilitating the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas for Turkish citizens and emphasized the importance of further strengthening the Visa Liberalization Dialogue, as well as cooperation on security and migration through high-level dialogue mechanisms.
Kos recalled that dialogue on the rule of law and democratic standards remains an integral part of Türkiye–EU relations.
She also welcomed Türkiye’s engagement in the ongoing informal Cyprus process under the auspices of the U.N. secretary-general and stressed the importance of continuing confidence-building efforts.
Separately, Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz received Kos and her delegation at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay, and Deputy Trade Minister Mustafa Tuzcu also attended the meeting.
In a statement shared on Nsosyal, Yilmaz said discussions focused on the strategic nature of Türkiye–EU relations, the importance of a reliable and fair enlargement policy, and the need for tangible progress.
He said concrete steps on Türkiye’s full EU membership process, updating the customs union, visa liberalization and reviving high-level dialogue mechanisms are of vital importance for relations that cannot be confined to narrow topics.
“Based on mutual interests and shared responsibility, we believe a strong Türkiye–EU perspective grounded in equality, merit and inclusiveness is possible,” Yilmaz said, thanking Kos and her delegation for constructive dialogue and cooperation.
Kos also marked the anniversary of the devastating earthquakes in 2023, recalling EU solidarity with Türkiye, including €1 billion in emergency and reconstruction support.
Fidan, in turn, stressed the importance of Türkiye–EU solidarity in all areas for the security, stability and prosperity of the European continent.
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